FORENSIC SCIENCE SECTION

The Forensic Science Section operates under the command of a civilian Scientist. The section is divided into four units to include

Property Control, Crime Scene, Laboratory, and AFIS. The Operations Supervisor, as the property custodian, is responsible for all

found, recovered and evidentiary property.
 

The Forensic Science Section is responsible for processing of crime or incident scenes and collection, analysis and storage of

evidence. The Crime Scene Unit processed approximately 223 crime scenes and related evidence, 97 identifiable latent

fingerprints which were suitable for AFIS entry was recovered from these scenes.  
The Property Control Unit executed (4) biohazard, (1) chemical, (2) drug/gun, (3) conversion and (2) property destruction

orders. Items sold at auction generated an income in excess of $8,000 during 2008. A new weapons vault was constructed in

the old padded cell of the jail.  This vault will store all weapons seized by officers and increase space in the Division of Police

Armory.
 

The AFIS Unit added 1490 ten-print cards to the current database which totals approximately 25,000 sets of fingerprints.  97

new identifiable latent fingerprints were added to the unidentified latent print database.  35 identifications were made during

2008, 21 of those were from 10 print cards submissions and the remaining 14 from crime scenes. 
 

In 2008, a laboratory drug analysis invoices for provided services totaled $20,740. Administered DNA grant awards totaling

$330,733 during the year.  These grants provided new equipment and personnel for DNA analysis. A DNA extraction robot was

validated and brought on line for case work use.  Additional security doors were installed. 
 

Grant funding will provide for the continuation of the employment of the DNA Analyst and DNA Laboratory Technician, funding

will also be used or overtime for DNA related case work. 112 DNA cases were reported during 2008.  The laboratory received 14

CODIS hits during the year; these cases include a no-suspect rape from 2005.
 

Forensic Scientist Anthony Tambasco was appointed as a member of the NDIS review panel by the FBI in May of 2008.